Roller skating has been a beloved pastime enjoyed by generations of kids and adults alike. It’s hard to believe that the first use of roller skates was in a London stage performance way back in 1743!
John Joseph Merlin, a London resident in 1760, deserves the credit for inventing the first skates. Roller skates have certainly come a long way since then!
In the United States, roller skating gained popularity as a pastime in 1935. But it wasn’t until the introduction of skating rinks playing disco music in the 1970s that roller skating became a huge trend. It seemed like everyone wanted to hit the rinks and groove to the music!
Speaking of roller skating, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Do you remember those heavy metal skates that you could attach to your shoes? They were quite the fashion statement back in the day. But there’s something else that you might remember if you were a skater before the 1970s – the iconic skate key.
This copper-colored object was an essential accessory for anyone with roller skates. At first glance, it may look like a bottle opener or some kind of tool, but it is actually a skate key. With the skate key, you could adjust the size of your skates by fitting it into the back of the pair. And to make sure they didn’t get lost while skating, most people wore the key around their necks. It was a small but significant part of the roller skating experience.
Skate keys were such an integral part of roller skating that there have even been songs written about them! They symbolize a time when roller skating was a cherished activity, filled with fun and memories.
So, do you remember skate keys? We’d love to hear your skating stories on our Facebook page. Let’s share this delightful blast from the past with others who may have fond memories of roller skating and skate keys too!
Welsh rock star Bonnie Tyler said she will never get bored of singing Total Eclipse Of The Heart as she received an MBE at Windsor Castle.
The musician, originally Gaynor Sullivan from Skewen, Wales, has been a dedicated ambassador for the Prince of Wales trust for several years, and she had the opportunity to meet Prince William and his family at Cardiff Castle. Despite not expecting the prince to be a fan of her music, she fondly recalled a kind gesture from their initial encounter. During a concert in Cardiff for the Queen’s Jubilee, the Prince of Wales arrived with Catherine and the children, mentioning that he had played some of her music to his family on the way to the event so they would recognize her.
Upon receiving her MBE from the Prince of Wales, Tyler expressed her delight in engaging in a pleasant conversation with Prince William. She recounted that the Prince wore a warm smile as he inquired about her experiences on tour, expressing his pleasure in seeing her once again. With a career spanning over five decades in the music industry, Tyler has released more than 15 albums. Despite her extensive accomplishments, she remains humble and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with some of the world’s finest producers and songwriters. Reflecting on her recent tour in Brazil and South America, Tyler acknowledged that she receives greater recognition in other countries. Looking ahead, she revealed her upcoming plans for a significant tour later in the year, while also mentioning her upcoming visits to Denmark and Brussels in March.
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